Life with Braces
Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It's important to know how to care for your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.
Eating with Braces
Once treatment is over, you can go back to popcorn and potato chips! Until then, you'll need to take special care to avoid foods that could damage your braces and other appliances.
Foods to avoid with braces:
- Chewy foods: bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, chips, ice
- Sticky foods: caramel candies, chewing gum
- Hard foods: nuts, hard candies
- Foods that require biting into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
- Dairy: soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
- Breads: soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
- Grains: pasta, soft cooked rice
- Meats and poultry: soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
- Seafood: tuna, salmon, crab cakes
- Vegetables: mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
- Fruits: applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
- Treats: ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Soreness Caused by Braces and Appliances
When you first get your braces, your teeth and mouth may feel a little tender or sore. This is normal, and the soreness usually fades within a few days. To ease it, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water, then swish and gargle for a couple of minutes (do not swallow the salt water).
If the soreness is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also take a pain reliever, following the directions on the label. It is also common for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they get used to the braces. We are happy to give you some wax to put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin to feel a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth settle into their new positions, the loose feeling goes away.
Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix a loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is irritating your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over it to ease the discomfort. For more quick fixes, see our Emergency Care page.
Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances can lengthen your treatment, so be sure to take care of all of them. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances Dr. Cooper prescribes.
Playing Sports with Braces
Game, set, match: we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports during orthodontic treatment. If you play sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let Dr. Cooper know if you need help finding the right mouthguard.
In case of a sports injury, check your mouth and appliance for damage right away. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily ease the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.
Have a child or teen starting braces? Our guides to braces for kids and braces for teens cover what to expect, and our instructional videos walk through daily care.